Toy phonograph

ABSTRACT

A toy phonograph comprises means for pressing a pickup arm into engagement with a phonograph record for reproducing recorded sound from the phonograph record playing surface during rotation thereof. The sound is picked up from a sound reproducing groove in the playing surface by direct resilient contact of a speaker cone assembly with the pickup arm. The speaker cone assembly includes a lift bar containing an aperture adjacent the end of the recording with a protrusion on the pickup arm being received in the aperture as the pickup arm reaches the end of the recording. The drive means for the turntable has an associated electrical contact located between the phonograph record playing surface and the lift bar. When the protrusion is received in the lift bar aperture, the lift bar drops a sufficient amount to engage a leaf spring contact which is normally biased to a closed circuit condition to open the circuit and thus shut off the drive means. Two records may be provided on opposite sides of a common turntable with two separate identical means connected in parallel so that the common turntable may be driven if either of the respective pickup arm protrusions is not received in its respective lift bar aperture. The device may function as a talking toy bank responsive to insertion of a coin.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to my previous U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,111,issued Oct. 5, 1976, entitled "Toy Phonograph", and my contemporaneouslyfiled U.S. patent application entitled "Resettable Toy Phonograph",filed Dec. 6, 1976 and bearing U.S. Ser. No. 747,485, now U.S. Pat. No.4,055,315, issued Oct. 25, 1977, and is a continuation-in-part of mycopending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 747,484, filed Dec. 6, 1976,entitled "Dual Record Toy Phonograph" now U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,808,issued Mar. 14, 1978.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to phonographs and particularly to thetypes of phonographs known as toy phonographs.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Toy phonographs, that is phonographs such as for use as talking voiceboxes, such as for talking dolls or other types of so-called talkingtoys, such as talking alarm clocks, are well known. An example of suchprior art toy phonographs is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,589,735;3,411,790; 3,538,638; 3,208,755; 3,055,664; 3,467,393; 3,823,946;3,401,942; 3,208,755; 3,544,115; 3,784,210; 3,984,111; Canadian Pat. No.707,932; and British Pat. No. 828,608, by way of example. The entirefield with respect to toy phonographs has been quite active with theprimary motivation, because of their use in toys, being economics,efficiency and size so as to provide a practical commercial embodimentfor use in economically viable children's toys. Thus, the above patents,provided by way of example, merely disclose a quantitatively smallamount of the large volume of different types of toy phonographsexistent in the prior art with the difference between the various priorart toy phonographs in an attempt to provide toy phonographs which areeconomically viable being relatively narrow since apparently minorimprovements can provide a significant improvement in efficiency andeconomics in the area of toy phonographs.

Prior art devices known to applicant in which both sides of a record areplayed back by separate playback means have either involved conventionalautomatic record changing mechanisms such as in expensive high fidelityequipment, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,506,925 and 2,858,374,or elaborate mechanical interconnection such as disclosed in 3,538,638,whereas the dual record toy phonograph described in my parentapplication, U.S. Ser. No. 747,484, filed Dec. 6, 1976, now U.S. Pat.No. 4,078,808, as well as herein, is an economic and efficientphonograph for enabling two separate phonograph records to be employedin a talking toy. Thus, in my phonograph referred to above, the entirephonograph record playing surface is available for reproduction of arecorded message thereby providing a reasonable length message asopposed to prior art attempts to provide a plurality of messages on acommon phonograph record playing surface with each of such messagesnecessarily being of short duration since they occupied only a portionof the entire phonograph record playing surface.

In addition, control of the drive mechanism of prior art toy phonographsemploying leaf spring contact switches adjacent the end of the record,including that used in the above parent application, requires thatelectrical contact be broken at the exact moment when the needle reachesthe end of the record. In the instance of the phonograph described inthe above parent application, it is imperative that the needle armprotrusion pop in the hole in the lift bar at the correct time since theneedle arm should only engage one record at a time on the commonturntable. This requirement, if not met, could cause the end of therecord to be reached and not turn off or could cause premature turn offbefore the end of the record. These disadvantages of the prior art areovercome by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A toy phonograph capable of reproducing recorded sound from a recordrotatably mounted on a turntable in which the phonograph automaticallyshuts off at the completion of a single play of the record is providedas well as such a toy phonograph capable of reproducing recorded soundfrom two different records rotatably mounted on a common turntable forsimultaneous rotation thereby. In either instance, the phonographcomprises a housing with the housing comprising a base and a turntablerotatably mounted on the base for rotation about an axis of rotation.The first pickup arm pivoted at one end and engageable with a playingsurface of a first phonograph record rotatably mounted on one side ofthe turntable is provided and in the instance of the dual record toyphonograph, a second pickup arm pivoted at one end and engageable with aplaying surface of a second phonograph record rotatably mounted on theopposite side of the turntable from the aforementioned one side is alsoprovided. Each of the phonograph records has a periphery and each of thepickup arms is constantly placed under a force of an associated springwhich urges the respective pickup arm towards the periphery of thephonograph record associated therewith. In either instance, means areprovided for pressing the respective pickup arm into engagement with itsassociated phonograph record for reproducing recorded sound from thephonograph record playing surface during its rotation. A first speakercone assembly comprising a lift bar is resiliently mounted on thehousing above the first pickup arm and, where a dual record phonographis employed, a second speaker cone assembly also comprising a lift baris resiliently mounted on the housing above the second pickup arm. Theaforementioned pressing means comprises a leaf spring resilientlyseparately urging each of the speaker cone assemblies into contact withits associated pickup arm with a biasing force for pressing theassociated pickup arm into engagement with its associated phonographrecord for reproducing the recorded sound from the phonograph recordplaying surface during its rotation. Means are also provided fordisengaging the associated speaker cone assembly from resilient contactwith its associated pickup arm adjacent the end of the associatedphonograph record recording.

In order to accomplish the aforementioned disengagement or interruptionof sound reproduction from the respective phonograph record playingsurface, the pickup arm, in both instances, comprises a protrusionextending upwardly therefrom substantially normal to the associatedphonograph record playing surface and pivotally movable with the pickuparm and the respective lift bar associated with the speaker coneassembly. Each lift bar comprises an aperture for receiving such asassociated protrusion therein with this aperture being located above thephonograph record associated with the speaker cone assembly and adjacentthe end of the phonograph record recording. The aforementioned pickuparm protrusion is receivable in this lift bar means aperture when theassociated pickup arm is adjacent the end of the phonograph recordrecording for interrupting the reproducing of the recorded sound fromthe phonograph record playing surface. In addition, as previouslymentioned, the rotatable drive of the turntable is halted when thispickup arm protrusion is received in the associated aperture of the liftbar or, in the instance of a dual record toy phonograph, when both ofthe pickup arm protrusions are received in the respective associatedapertures of the lift bars, so as to only provide a single playreproduction of recorded sound from the phonograph record playingsurface. In order to accomplish this, a bistable switch for activatingand deactivating the turntable drive dependent on the state of theswitch is provided, with the turntable drive being activated torotatably drive the turntable in a first state of the switch and beingdeactivated to halt such rotatable drive of the turntable in a secondstate of the switch.

The switch comprises means located between the respective phonographrecord playing surface and its associated lift bar means, such as a leafspring contact, which is cooperable with the lift bar means for placingthe switch means in its second state when the respective pickup armprotrusion is received in the associated lift bar means aperture. Theaforementioned switch comprises a leaf spring contact switch comprisingthe leaf spring contact and a second contact with the leaf springcontact being spaced from the lift bar means out of engagement therewithand in closed circuit engagement with the second contact to complete anelectrical circuit when the switch is in the first state. The leafspring contact is normally resiliently biased into such closed circuitengagement with a predetermined biasing force. The lift bar means bearsagainst the associated leaf spring contact to bias it to an open circuitposition from the aforementioned normally closed circuit position byapplying a force opposite to and in excess of the leaf spring biasingforce when the associated pickup arm protrusion is received in therespective lift bar means aperture. In the instance of a dual record toyphonograph, an identical arrangement is provided for the otherphonograph record with the associated leaf spring contacts being biasedto an open circuit position from their normally closed circuit positionby the respective lift bar means which bear against them when both thefirst and second pickup arm protrusions are received in the respectivefirst and second lift bar apertures. In the instance of a dual recordtoy phonograph, the leaf spring contact associated with the firstphonograph record and the leaf spring contact associated with the secondphonograph record are actually connected in parallel in the drivecircuit for the turntable so that if either leaf spring contact is in aclosed circuit condition, indicating that the associated pickup arm isnot at the end of the recording, the drive circuit may be closed and theturntable rotatably driven. Each of the leaf spring contacts is normallybiased towards a closed circuit condition and is only held in an opencircuit condition when the associated lift bar means bears against itwhen the pickup arm protrusion is received in the associated lift baraperture at the end of the recording. Each of the lift bars comprises anextension portion extending out of the housing for enabling theaforementioned lift bar aperture to be raised above the associatedpickup arm protrusion received therein for enabling the pickup arm to beresiliently reset to the periphery of its associated phonograph recordby means of the spring which urges it towards the periphery of therecord. The aforementioned switch may be located adjacent the respectivephonograph record periphery and the lift bar extension portion.

The aforementioned toy phonograph may be employed to provide a talkingtoy bank in which the toy phonograph housing will include a receptaclefor receiving inserted coins as well as one or more slots therein forenabling coins to be inserted therethrough. Preferably each of thecoin-receiving slots has a coin-receiving means associated therewithwhich is operatively associated with a lift bar extension portion and incommunication with a coin-receiving slot for raising the associated liftbar aperture above the pickup arm protrusion received therein inresponse to insertion of the coin in the coin-receiving slot whereby asingle play recorded message is reproduced. Two coin-receiving slots maybe provided with one being associated with each of the two separatephonograph records, in the instance of a dual toy phonograph, and,accordingly, each will be separately and operatively associated with adifferent lift bar extension portion and in communication with adifferent coin-receiving slot for raising the associated lift baraperture above the pickup arm protrusion received therein in response toinsertion of a coin in the associated coin-receiving slot. Insertion ofa coin causes the associated lift bar extension portion to raise theassociated lift bar aperture a sufficient amount to unseat theassociated pickup arm protrusion and enable the pickup arm to beresiliently reset to the periphery of the record for initiating thereproduction of the message recorded thereon. At the same time, sincethe lift bar means again rests on the pickup arm protrusion, it nolonger bears against its associated leaf spring contact and the normalbiasing of the leaf spring contact places it in a closed circuitcondition activating the rotatable drive of the turntable whereby themessage is reproduced. The coin-receiving means thereafterconventionally drops the coin into the receptacle. When the pickup armprotrusion again reseats in the lift bar aperture at the end of therecording, the lift bar drops and again biases the leaf spring contactto an open circuit condition and, assuming that the pickup armassociated with the phonograph record located on the opposite side ofthe turntable, in the instance of a dual record toy phonograph, is alsoseated or received in its associated lift bar aperture, the turntabledrive circuit is placed in an open circuit condition halting rotation ofthe turntable, thereby turning off the phonograph until another coin issubsequently inserted through the coin-receiving slot to again enablereset of the pickup arm to the periphery of the record for reproducing amessage. In the instance of the aforementioned dual record toyphonograph, the message reproduced is preferably recorded in acounterclockwise sound-reproducing groove on one side of the phonographrecord while being recorded in a clockwise sound-reproducing groove onthe phonograph record located on the opposite side of the turntable,with the first pickup arm being pressable into engagement with the firstphonograph record for reproducing recorded sound from the firstphonograph record clockwise sound-reproducing groove during rotation ofthe turntable and the second pickup arm being pressable into engagementwith the second phonograph record for reproducing recorded sound fromthe second phonograph record counterclockwise sound-reproducing grooveduring rotation of the turntable, assuming the reproduced messages areso recorded on the first and second phonograph records, respectively.When a talking toy bank is provided, each of the coin-receiving slotsmay correspond to a different denomination coin with a different messagebeing reproduced from the toy phonograph in response to insertion ofeach of the different coins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the dual record toyphonograph, with the cover removed, of the invention described in mycopending parent application, U.S. Ser. No. 747,484, filed Dec. 6, 1976now U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,808;

FIG. 2 is a partially cut away side elevation of the embodiment of FIG.1 with the cover shown in position in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of the dual record toyphonograph of the invention of FIG. 1 with the cover removed, FIGS. 1and 3 being top plan and bottom plan views, respectively, with respectto FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 2 with only the pickuparm and lift bar assemblies being shown in solid lines, illustrating onepickup arm at the end of the recording and the pickup arm on theopposite side at the beginning of the recording;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the turntable drive circuit of theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a talking toy bank employing a dual recordtoy phonograph of either FIG. 1 or FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the presently preferred embodiment of thedual record toy phonograph of the present invention with the coverremoved;

FIG. 8 is a partially cut away side elevation, similar to FIG. 2, of theembodiment of FIG. 7 with the cover shown in position in dotted lines;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the presently preferred embodiment ofthe dual record toy phonograph of the present invention as shown in FIG.7 with the cover removed, FIGS. 7 and 9 being top plan and bottom planviews, respectively, with respect to FIG. 8, with FIG. 9 also being aplan view of the presently preferred single record toy phonographembodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation from the right side thereof of theembodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration similar to FIG. 5 of the turntabledrive circuit of the embodiment of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 12 is a side elevation similar to FIGS. 4 and 8 with only thepickup arm and lift bar assemblies being shown in solid lines,illustrating one pickup arm at the end of the recording and the pickuparm on the opposite side at the beginning of the recording for theembodiment of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before describing the presently preferred embodiments for a toyphonograph, generally referred to by the reference numeral 10a, andshown in FIGS. 7-12, for purposes of completeness and clarity, I shalldescribe the embodiment of the dual record toy phonograph, generallyreferred to by reference numeral 10, described in my copending parentapplication, U.S. Ser. No. 747,484, filed Dec. 6, 1976 and entitled"Dual Record Toy Phonograph", now U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,808, over whichthe presently preferred embodiment 10a is believed to be an improvement.With respect to the aforementioned copending parent application,although the contents thereof are specifically incorporated by referenceherein in the entirety, as mentioned above, these contents are beingessentially reproduced herein for purposes of clarity. Accordingly,referring initially to FIGS. 1-6, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3,the dual record resettable toy phonograph 10 in accordance with theinvention of my aforementioned copending parent application is shown. Asin previous conventional toy phonographs, such as described in U.S. Pat.No. 3,589,735, or as described with reference to my improved toyphonographs of the type described in my previous U.S. Pat. No.3,984,111, or in my copending U.S. patent application entitled"Resettable Toy Phonograph" now U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,341, filed Dec. 6,1976, and bearing U.S. Ser. No. 747,485, the phonograph comprises ahousing 12 to which a cover 14 normally containing a speaker grill (notshown), is mounted conventionally, such as by screws. However, as willbe described in greater detail hereinafter, unlike previous conventionaltoy phonographs, the dual record toy phonograph 10 shown in FIGS. 1-6preferably comprises two speaker grills, one on each side of the housingwith a common turntable 18 having two phonograph records 26 and 27rotatably mounted on opposite sides thereof. The housing 12 as shown andpreferred in FIG. 2, preferably comprises a symmetrical housingincluding an upper base portion 16 and a lower base portion 17, eitherof which or both, may be preferably fixedly secured to the balance ofthe housing 12 such as by screws which are removable so as to allowaccess to the interior of the housing 12.

The aforementioned turntable 18 is preferably a conventional type ofturntable except for its ability to rotatably retain phonograph records26 and 27 on opposite sides thereof. Turntable 18 is preferablyrotatably mounted on base portion 16, by way of example, between baseportions 16 and 17, in housing 12 by means of a conventional centrallylocated spindle or shaft 20 illustratively shown as being mounted tobase portion 16. The shaft 20 is preferably located along the centralaxis 22 of the turntable 18. As shown and preferred in FIGS. 2 and 4,and as described in my previous U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,111 and my copendingU.S. patent application entitled "Resettable Toy Phonograph", filed Dec.6, 1976, bearing U.S. Ser. No. 747,485, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,351 theconfiguration of the turntable 18 is such so as to form a groove 24normal to the axis 22 of the shaft 20 in conjunction with phonographrecords 26 and 27 which are preferably removably mounted on oppositesides of the turntable 18 for simultaneous rotation therewith. As alsoshown and preferred in FIGS. 2 and 4, the groove 24 which preferablyextends completely around the turntable 18, contains an endless belt,such as a conventional rubberband 28, which is driven in conventionalfashion by a conventional DC motor 30 which receives power from a DCsource such as a bettery 31 (FIG. 5), with the motor 30 beingconventionally turned on and off by means of a conventional on/offswitch 33 in conjunction with parallel switches 35 and 37, which will bedescribed in greater detail hereinafter in conjunction with thedescription of the automatic shut off feature of the embodiment of FIGS.1-6. The turntable 18 drive is accomplished in conventional fashion by aknurled shaft 32 which extends from the motor 30 into the interior ofthe housing 12, with the rubberband or belt 28 extending around theshaft 32 and around the turntable 18 in groove 24 so as to create a beltdrive type of conventional arrangement which is well known for the driveof battery powered toy phonographs.

Each of the phonograph records 26, 27 is preferably a conventional typeof plastic disc record such as the type conventionally utilized fortalking voice boxes or toy phonographs, such as for use in dolls.However, one of the phonograph records, for example phonograph record26, is conventionally recorded with a conventional clockwise soundreproducing groove containing the message to be reproduced from thephonograph record 26, while the other phonograph record 27 is preferablyrecorded with a counterclockwise sound reproducing groove forreproducing the recorded message from phonograph record 27. The mannerof actually recording the message in the counterclockwise soundreproducing groove of phonograph record 27 is conventional with theexception that, whereas conventional recordings are accomplished in theclockwise direction, the recording on phonograph record 27 is preferablyaccomplished in the counterclockwise direction determined by rotation ofphonograph record 27 in the direction opposite to the normal directionof rotation during the initial recording thereof. In this manner, whencommon turntable 18 rotates in conventional clockwise fashion aboutturntable axis 22, the recording contained on phonograph record 26 willbe reproducible from a clockwise sound reproducing groove, whereas therecording contained on phonograph record 27 will be reproduced from acounterclockwise sound reproducing groove, the reproduction of therecorded message otherwise being identical. As also shown and preferredin FIG. 2, phonograph record 26 is preferably removably mountable on oneside of turntable 18 by a snap-fit, being held in place by means ofconventional resilient plastic fingers 34, by way of example, andphonograph record 27 is preferably removably mountable on the oppositeside of turntable 18 by a similar snap-fit onto turntable 18, being heldin place by means of identical resilient plastic fingers 135, by way ofexample. The recordings contained in phonograph records 26 and 27 arepreferably different in content, although they could be identical incontent if desired.

As also shown and preferred in FIGS. 1 through 4, the toy phonograph 10of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 utilizes a conventional type of soundpickup mechanism for reproducing recorded sound from the phonographrecord 26 playing surface and from the phonograph record 27 playingsurface. This conventional type of sound pickup mechanism, such as thetype described in my previous U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,111 and my copendingU.S. patent application entitled "Improved Resettable Toy Phonograph",filed Dec. 6, 1976, bearing U.S. Serial No. 747,485, now U.S. Pat. No.4,055,351 or in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,589,735 or 3,054,664 or Canadian Pat.No. 707,932, preferably consists of a pickup arm 40-41 having aconventional phonograph needle 42-43 extending therefrom for contactingthe playing surface of the respective phonograph record 26-27, and anassociated speaker cone assembly 44 and 45, respectively. Pickup arm 40,needle 42, and speaker cone assembly 44 are associated with phonographrecord 26 and pickup arm 41, needle 43 and speaker cone assembly 45 areassociated with phonograph record 27. When the speaker cone assembly 44or 45 is in direct contact with its associated pickup arm 40 or 41,respectively, such as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 which illustrate thedirect contact between speaker cone assembly 45 and pickup arm 41, soundis conventionally reproduced from the phonograph record playing surface27, by way of example, picked up by the needle 43, by providing thissound in conventional fashion by vibration of the speaker cone 39forming part of the speaker cone assembly 45. Similarly, when speakercone assembly 44 is in direct contact with pickup arm 40, sound isconventionally reproduced from the phonograph record playing surface 26picked up by the needle 42, by providing this sound in conventionalfashion by vibration of the speaker cone 46 forming part of the speakercone assembly 44.

In addition to the unique provision of two separate pickup arms 40 and41 and two separate speaker cone assemblies 44 and 45 in conjunctionwith two separate phonograph records 26 and 27 being simultaneouslyrotated by a common turntable 18, the pickup arms 40 and 41 of theembodiment of FIGS. 1-6 are different in configuration from the pickuparms described in my previous U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,111. However, thesepickup arms 40 and 41 are preferably identical with the pickup armdescribed in my copending U.S. patent application entitled "ResettableToy Phonograph", filed Dec. 6, 1976, bearing U.S. Ser. No. 747,485, nowU.S. Pat. No. 4,055,351. Thus, pickup arms 40 and 41 do not have hookportions parallel to the playing surface of the respective associatedphonograph records 26 and 27 but, preferably contain upstandingprotrusions 47 and 49, respectively, preferably substantially normal tothe associated phonograph record playing surfaces 26 and 27,respectively. It is these protrusions 47 and 49 which, as will bedescribed in greater detail hereinafter, are preferably integrallyformed with the balance of the pickup arm assemblies 40 and 41,respectively, which preferably maintain the direct contact with theassociated speaker cone assembly 44 and 45, respectively, forconventionally reproducing sound from the phonograph record playingsurfaces 26 and 27, respectively, picked up by the needles 42 and 43,respectively.

As also shown and preferred in FIGS. 1 and 4, each of the speaker coneassemblies 44 and 45 also preferably comprises an associatedconventional type Y-shaped lift bar mechanism 48 and 51, respectively,for enabling the associated speaker cone 46 and 39, respectively, to belifted out of and biased into engagement with the respective pickup arm40 and 41, respectively, as is accomplished in conventional availabletoy phonographs. However, unlike my previous U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,111 ormy copending U.S. patent application entitled "Improved Resettable ToyPhonograph", filed Dec. 6, 1976, bearing U.S. Ser. No. 747,485, there isno specific camming mechanism for accomplishing the engagement anddisengagement of the speaker cone assemblies 44 and 45 with therespective pickup arms 40 and 41, such disengagement rather beingaccomplished by a mechanically operable reset capability of theassociated lift bar mechanisms 48 and 51 which is not conventional.Moreover, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the toyphonograph 10 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 is preferably designed soas to provide only a single play of the recording from the phonographrecord 26 or 27 unless the associated pickup arm 40 or 41 is againreset, such as results from the mechanical lifting of the associatedlift bar assembly 48 or 51, as will be described in greater detailhereinafter, such as when the toy phonograph 10 comprises part of atalking toy bank. As is further shown and preferred in FIGS. 1 through4, each of the preferred lift bar mechanisms 48 and 51 preferablyincludes an associated aperture 53 and 55, respectively, therein,capable of removably receiving the respective upstanding protrusion 47or 49 of the associated pickup arm 40 or 41, respectively, therein whenthe associated pickup arm 40 or 41 is pivotally moved into position andalignment with aperture 53 or 55, respectively, during the play of thephonograph record 26 or 27, respectively. Aperture 53 is preferablylocated above the phonograph record playing surface 26 adjacent the endof the phonograph record 26 recording for enabling automatic shut off ofreproduction of the phonograph record 26 recording at the end of therecord 26, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, andaperture 55 is preferably located above the phonograph record playingsurface 27 adjacent the end of the phonograph record 27 recording forenabling automatic shut off of reproduction of the phonograph record 27recording at the end of the record 27, whereby a single play of themessage recorded on the respective phonograph record playing surfaces 26and 27 is provided, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.Subsequent automatic reset of the associated pickup arm 40 or 41 to theperiphery or beginning of the respective phonograph records 26 and 27,is accomplished by mechanical lifting of the associated lift barassemblies 48 and 51, respectively, as will be described in greaterdetail hereinafter, which raises the associated lift bar apertures 53and 55, respectively, above the height of the protrusion 47 and 49,respectively, seated therein to enable automatic reset of the pickup arm40 or 41, respectively, to the periphery or beginning of the associatedphonograph record 26 or 27 as will be described in greater detailhereinafter. In order to accomplish this mechanical reset, as will alsobe described in greater detail hereinafter, each of the preferredY-shaped lift bar mechanisms 48 and 51 preferably comprises an integralextension portion 57 and 59, respectively, which extends beyond housing12 in order to enable mechanical lifting of the associated lift barmechanisms 48 and 51 and subsequent reset of the respective pickup arms40 and 41 to the periphery or beginning of the associated phonographrecord playing surfaces 26 and 27 whenever such mechanical liftingoccurs to either raise the associated lift bar aperture 53 or 55 asufficient amount to unseat the associated protrusion 47 or 49 of thepickup arm 40 or 41, respectively, or to remove the direct bearingcontact between the lift bar assembly 48 or 51, respectively, and theassociated pickup arm protrusion 47 or 49 at any position of therespective pickup arms 40 and 41 along the respective phonograph recordplaying surfaces 26 and 27. Such extension portions 57 and 59 aresimilar to those described with reference to my copending U.S. patentapplication entitled "Improved Resettable Toy Phonograph", filed Dec. 6,1976, bearing U.S. Ser. No. 747,485, but are not present in mypreviously described improved toy phonograph disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,984,111.

As shown and preferred in FIGS. 1 through 3, each of the pickup arms 40and 41 are preferably spring biased into playing engagement with theassociated phonograph record playing surface 26 or 27, respectively,such as by a conventional leaf spring 50 or 61, respectively,respectively bearing against the associated lift bar 48 or 51, whichlift bar 48 or 51, is preferably fixedly secured to the associatedspeaker cone 46 or 39, respectively, at the respective center 52 or 63thereof, as shown and preferred in FIGS. 2 and 4. Each of the lift barmechanisms 48 and 51 and, hence, the entire associated speaker coneassemblies 44 and 45 which each separately move as a unit, are slidablymounted via extension arms 48a and 48b of the Y-shape forming the liftbar 48 on posts 56 and 58, respectively, and via extension arms 51a and51b of the Y-shape forming the lift bar 51 on posts 65 and 67,respectively, for slidable movement up and down therealong. A thirdpoint of contact or support of the lift bar 48 is made at point 52 whichis in removable spring biased contact with the pickup arm 40 protrusion47 and a third point of contact or support of the lift bar 51 is made atpoint 63 which is in removable spring biased contact with the pickup arm41 protrusion 49, as is shown and preferred in FIGS. 2 and 4. As waspreviously mentioned, the spring 50 resiliently presses against the liftbar 48 and, thus, biases point 52 of the speaker cone assembly 44 intodirect contact with protrusion 47 on pickup arm 40 which then biases theneedle 42 into playing engagement with the phonograph record playingsurface 26, and the spring 61 resiliently presses against the lift bar51 and, thus, biases point 63 of the speaker cone assembly 45 intodirect contact with protrusion 49 on pickup arm 41 which then biases theneedle 43 into playing engagement with the phonograph record playingsurface 27.

Pickup arm 40, via a conventional spring 60, is preferablyconventionally spring biased in a direction parallel to the playingsurface of the phonograph record 26 toward the periphery thereof;however, the force of spring 50 is preferably sufficient to overcome theforce of spring 60 so as to prevent the pickup arm 40, in conventionalfashion, from moving towards the periphery of the phonograph record 26during play while the speaker cone assembly 44 is in direct bearingcontact with the protrusion 47 on pickup arm 40. Similarly, pickup arm41 via a conventional spring 69, is preferably conventionally springbiased in a direction parallel to the playing surface of the phonographrecord 27 toward the periphery thereof; however, the force of spring 61is preferably sufficient to overcome the force of spring 69 so as toprevent the pickup arm 41, in conventional fashion, from moving towardthe periphery of the phonograph record 27 during play while the speakercone assembly 45 is in direct bearing contact with the protrusion 49 onpickup arm 41.

As is shown and preferred in FIGS. 1 through 4, and particularly inFIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and as will be described in greater detailhereinafter, when the pickup using pickup arm 40 by way of example inFIG. 4, the operation being identical for pickup arm 41 and record 27,reaches the end of the phonograph record 26, that is the end of therecording, which is conventionally located adjacent the center of therecord 26, the pickup arm protrusion 47 will seat in the lift baraperture 53 thereby removing the direct bearing contact of the speakercone assembly 44 with the protrusion 47 on the pickup arm 40. Inaddition, as is shown by reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, a conventionalelectrical leaf spring contact arrangement 71-73, which comprises switch35, by way of example, and which is normally biased to the closedcircuit condition, is then forceably held in the open circuit conditiondue to pickup arm 40 bearing against leaf spring contact 71 removing itfrom electrical contact against contact 73 and is held in this positionas long as the pickup arm protrusion 47 is seated in the lift baraperture 53. As is shown by reference to FIG. 5, a similar leaf springelectrical contact arrangement 75-77, which comprises switch 37 by wayof example, is provided on the opposite side with respect to pickup arm41 and phonograph record 27, with this leaf spring switch arrangement75-77 being shown in the closed circuit condition in FIGS. 3 and 5. Inthis closed circuit condition, as long as on/off switch 33 is closed,power will be supplied from power source 31, to the turntable drivemotor 30, to effect rotatable drive of turntable 18 and,correspondingly, simultaneous rotation of phonograph records 26 and 27.However, as long as the pickup arm protrusion 47 is seated in the liftbar aperture 53, the needle 42 is not in contact with the phonographrecord playing surface 26 and sound cannot thereby be reproduced fromthe phonograph record 26 although, since as illustratively shown by wayof example in FIG. 4, the needle 43 associated with pickup arm 41 is incontact with the phonograph record playing surface 27 due to directbearing contact between lift bar 51 and the protrusion 49 on the pickuparm 41, sound will be reproduced from the phonograph record playingsurface 27 from the counterclockwise groove recorded therein. Of course,if on/off switch 33 is manually moved to the open circuit condition,phonograph 10 will not operate irrespective of the open or closedcircuit condition of switches 35 and 37 defined by contacts 71-73 and75-77, respectively. Moreover, if on/off switch 33 is in the closedcircuit condition, and both switches 35 and 37 are in the open circuitcondition, the toy phonograph 10 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 will notoperate to produce sound since the turntable drive motor 30 will not beturned on. This latter condition preferably occurs when both pickup arms40 and 41 have their respective protrusions 47 and 49 seated in lift barapertures 53 and 55, respectively, with both of the pickup arms 40 and41 located at the ends of the respective recordings associated withphonograph records 26 and 27, respectively. As will be described ingreater detail hereinafter, this is the preferred off condition for thephonograph 10, such as when the phonograph 10 forms part of a talkingtoy bank as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Thus, insuch a condition, when pickup arm 41, shown at the beginning of therecord or periphery of phonograph record 27 in FIGS. 2 and 4, reachesthe end of the phonograph record 27, that is the end of the recording,which is conventionally located adjacent the center of the record 27,the protrusion 49 will seat in lift bar aperture 55 thereby removing thedirect bearing contact of the speaker cone assembly 45 with theprotrusion 49 on the pickup arm 41 and opening switch 37 by separatingelectrical contacts 75 and 77 due to pickup arm 41 bearing against leafspring 75 to bias it to the open circuit condition. It should be notedthat preferably leaf springs 71 and 75 are normally biased to the closedcircuit condition by being normally biased in a direction placing theminto contact with electrical contacts 73 and 77, respectively.

As shown and preferred in FIG. 2, an additional upstanding member 87 isprovided adjacent the end of the phonograph record 26 recording whichextends from housing 12 above the phonograph record playing surface 26and is preferably located between the lower surface of the lift barmechanism 48 and the phonograph record playing surface 26, and aseparate additional upstanding member 89 is provided adjacent the end ofthe phonograph record 27 recording which extends from housing 12 abovethe phonograph record playing surface 27 and is preferably locatedbetween the lower surface of the lift bar mechanism 51 and thephonograph record playing surface 27. Members 87 and 89 each preferablycomprise a portion 87a and 89a, respectively, which extendssubstantially normal to the playing surface and acts as a stop memberfor the pickup arm 40 and 41, respectively, when the pickup arm reachesthe end of the recording, and an overhang portion 87b and 89b,respectively, which extends substantially parallel to the playingsurface of phonograph records 26 and 27, respectively. Overhang portion87b is preferably located at a sufficient height so as to enable the topsurface of the pickup arm 40 from which the protrusion 47 extends to beseated therebeneath when the protrusion 47 is seated in lift baraperture 53, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Similarly, overhang portion 89bis preferably located at a sufficient height so as to enable the topsurface of the pickup arm 41 from which the protrusion 49 extends to beseated therebeneath when the protrusion 49 is seated in the lift baraperture 55. Preferably, the height of overhang 87b is sufficient toenable some space to exist sufficient to enable movement of the pickuparm 40 pivotally into and out of engagement against stop member 87awhile restraining upward movement of the pickup arm 40 in a directionopposite to the direction of arrow 85, and the height of overhang 89b issufficient to enable some space to exist sufficient to enable movementof the pickup arm 41 pivotally into and out of engagement against stopmember 89a while restraining upward movement of the pickup arm 41 in adirection opposite to the direction of arrow 91. The primary purpose ofoverhangs 87b and 89b, respectively, is to prevent the respective pickuparms 40 and 41 from lifting up with the speaker cone assemblies 44 and45, respectively, when the speaker cone assemblies 44 and 45 are eachrespectively, mechanically lifted in a direction opposite to thedirection of arrows 85 and 91, respectively. As previously mentioned,however, the height of the overhang portion 87b and 89b is sufficient toenable the respective pickup arms 40 and 41 to be resiliently returnedto the periphery of the respective records 26 and 27 by the action ofsprings 60 and 69, respectively, when the respective lift bars 48 and 51are mechanically raised a sufficient amount to raise the respective liftbar apertures 53 and 55 above the respective protrusions 47 and 49.

As further shown and preferred in FIGS. 1 through 4, and as previouslymentioned, lift bar mechanism 48 also preferably includes an integralextension portion 57 for enabling mechanical reset of the pickup arm 40to the periphery of the record 26 either to initiate reproduction of themessage recorded in the clockwise groove on phonograph record 26 or atany time during the play thereof, such as before the pickup arm 40reaches the end of the record, and lift bar mechanism 51 preferablyincludes an integral extension portion 59 for enabling mechanical resetof the pickup arm 41 to the periphery of the record 27 either toinitiate reproduction of the message recorded in the counterclockwisegroove on phonograph record 27 or at any time during the play thereof,such as before the pickup arm 41 reaches the end of the record.Extension 57 enables a force to be applied in the direction of arrow 101at the end of extension portion 57 to lift the lift arm 48 out ofbearing engagement with protrusion 47, thereby enabling spring 60 toresiliently return pickup arm 40 to the beginning or periphery of therecord 26. Such resilient return also enables switch 35 to close due toleaf spring 71 being normally biased to the closed circuit condition,which normal bias force is no longer overcome by the bearingrelationship of pickup arm 40 against leaf spring 71. Thus, if on/offswitch 33 is closed, the closing of switch 35 will complete the circuitfrom power source 31 to turntable drive motor 30, thereby turning onmotor 30 and rotatably driving turntable 18 and enabling reproduction ofthe recorded message from phonograph record playing surface 26 due tosubsequent direct bearing contact of lift bar 48 against the protrusion47 when the pickup arm 40 reaches the periphery of the phonograph record26. Similarly, extension 59 enables a mechanical force to be applied inthe direction of arrow 103 at the end of extension portion 59 to liftthe lift arm 51 out of bearing engagement with protrusion 49, therebyenabling spring 69 to resiliently return pickup arm 41 to the beginningor periphery of the record 27, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Similarly,since pickup arm 41 does not then bear against leaf spring contact 75,switch 37 will close due to the failure to then overcome the normalbiasing force of leaf spring 75 which then contacts electrical contact77 to close switch 37. Thus, if on/off switch 33 is closed, this willcomplete the circuit from power source 31 to turntable drive motor 30enabling rotatable drive of turntable 18 and, due to the subsequentdirect bearing engagement of lift bar 51 with protrusion 49 on pickuparm 41, sound will be reproduced from phonograph record playing surface27. If desired, such mechanical reset may be accomplished in conjunctionwith the turning on and off of the drive motor 30 by means of aconventional mechanical interconnection between the on/off switch 33 forthe power supply 31 for motor 30 which switch mechanicalinterconnection, by way of example, could also raise lift bar 48 in thedirection of arrow 101 when the switch 33 was moved to the off positionor, alternatively, raise lift bar 51 in the direction of arrow 103 whenthe switch 33 was moved to the off position, thereby insuring thatrecord 26 or 27 will always start at the beginning thereof when thephonograph 10 is turned on. However, most preferably, the toy phonograph10 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 may be employed in a talking toy whereselection of the message to be singly reproduced is desired. In such aninstance, it may be conventionally arranged to provide a mechanicalinterconnection to raise lift bar 48 in the direction of arrow 101 toprovide one message in response to one condition and, alternatively, amechanical interconnection to raise lift bar 51 in the direction ofarrow 103 to provide another message in response a different condition.Thus, by way of example, the dual record toy phonograph 10 of theembodiment of FIGS. 1-6 may provide a talking toy bank, such asillustratively shown in block form in FIG. 6.

In such an instance, the bank, generally referred to by the referencenumeral 100, may preferably have a pair of conventional coin receivingslots 102 and 104, such as labeled "5¢" and "10¢", respectively. Acentral mechanical member 106 may be provided which is conventionallylocated between lift bar extension portions 57 and 59 out of contacttherewith. Preferably, if desired, conventional leaf springs 110 and 112may be provided to maintain mechanical member 106 in its neutralposition between lift bar extension portions 57 and 59. The insertion ofan appropriate coin in coin receiving slot 102, for example, willprovide a force which momentarily overcomes the neutralizing biasingforces of leaf springs 110 and 112 by applying downward pressure in thedirection of arrow 103 so as to overcome these normal biasing forces ofsprings 110 and 112 and press contact member 106a of member 106 againstlift bar extension 59 a sufficient amount to raise the lift bar 51 asufficient amount to subsequently raise lift bar aperture 55 aboveprotrusion 49 which was preferably previously seated therein and, thus,enable spring 69 to resiliently return pickup arm 41 to the periphery ofrecord 27, thereby also closing switch 37 by contact of leaf spring 75with contact 77. Since switch 33 has previously preferably been closedprior to insertion of the coin in slot 102, closure of switch 37 willcomplete the circuit from power source 31 to drive motor 30, therebyturning on the phonograph 10 and enabling a single play reproduction ofthe recorded message on phonograph record playing surface 27, with thephonograph 10 subsequently shutting off at the end of the recording 27when the protrusion 49 again seats in lift bar aperture 55.Subsequently, if a different denomination coin, by way of example, isinserted in coin receiving slot 104, member 106 and springs 110 and 112are preferably conventionally balanced so that the insertion of thiscoin through slot 104 will momentarily apply a force in the direction ofarrow 101 sufficient to overcome the normal neutralizing biasing forcesof springs 110 and 112 and raise extension portion 57 a sufficientamount above protrusion 47 to enable resilient return of pickup arm 40to the periphery of the record 26 and the closure of switch 35 bycontact of leaf spring 71 with contact 73, thereby enabling a singleplay reproduction of the message recorded on phonograph record playingsurface 26, assuming on/off switch 33 was previously in the closedcircuit condition. It should be noted that preferably the insertion of acoin through either slot 102 or 104 only supplies a momentary force inthe direction of arrow 101 or 103, respectively, for a sufficient timeto enable return of the respective pickup arm 40 or 41 to the peripheryof the respective record 26 or 27 and, thereafter, conventionally dropsinto the coin receptacle portion 114 of the bank 100. This can becontrolled in any conventional fashion such as by the positioning of therespective leaf springs 110 and 112 and the dimensions of the associatedcoin receiving slots 102 and 104, with the leaf springs 110 and 112being located in coin receiving receptacles in communication with slots102 and 104 at one end and in communication with coin receptacle 114 atthe opposite end.

Each of the pickup arms 40 and 41 is preferably conventionally pivotallymounted, such as at pivot points 120 and 121, respectively, on thehousing 12. As was previously described, the pickup arms 40 and 41 arebiased in conventional fashion into playing engagement with therespective phonograph records 26 and 27 playing surfaces via therespective speaker cone assemblies 44 and 45 with which they are indirect bearing engagement due to the respective lift bar mechanisms 48and 51 bearing against protrusions 47 and 49, respectively, to enablereproduction of the recorded sound. Pickup arm 40 conventionally movesalong its clockwise record groove towards the center of the record 26,the direction of the groove being indicated by arrow 124 in FIG. 1, toreproduce the sound recorded on the record 26 as the turntable 18, andhence the phonograph record 26 rotates due to the belt drive 28.Similarly, pickup arm 41 conventionally moves along its counterclockwiserecord groove towards the center of the record 27, the direction of thecounterclockwise record groove being indicated by arrow 126 in FIG. 3,to reproduce the sound recorded on the record 27 as the turntable 18and, hence, the phonograph record 27, simultaneously rotates due to thebelt drive 28. Thus, the simultaneous drive of the common turntable 18may enable sound reproduction from either record 26 or 27 or, ifdesired, from both records 26 and 27 simultaneously if both speaker coneassemblies 44 and 45 are, respectively, in direct bearing engagementwith respective pickup arms 40 and 41 at the same time.

Summarizing the operation of the dual record toy phonograph 10 of theembodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the preferred starting condition for thephonograph 10 is with both the protrusion 47 seated in lift bar aperture53 and the protrusion 49 seated in lift bar aperture 55. In thiscondition, both pickup arms 40 and 41 are at the end of the respectivephonograph records 26 and 27 and switches 35 and 37 are both biased tothe open circuit condition. Thus, closure of switch 33 will not turn onthe device since both parallel switches 35 and 37 are being held in theopen circuit condition, respectively, by pickup arm 40 bearing againstleaf spring 71 and by pickup arm 41 bearing against leaf spring 75.Depending on the message to be reproduced either lift bar extension 57or 59 is mechanically lifted, such as by insertion of a coin if thedevice is used as a bank 100, as previously mentioned, a sufficientamount so as to raise the associated lift bar aperture, 55 by way ofexample, a sufficient amount to unseat the respective pickup arm 49, byway of example. This enables the pickup arm 41 to be resiliently resetto the beginning of the phonograph record 27 and removes the bearingcontact of the pickup arm 41 against the leaf spring 71 which thenreturns the switch 35 to the closed circuit condition as illustrated inFIG. 5. Thus, with switch 33 previously closed, this completes thecircuit to drive motor 30 and turns on the rotatable drive of turntable18. Since the upward mechanical force is then no longer present onextension 59, the lift bar 51 returns to direct bearing engagement withprotrusion 49 on pickup arm 41 pressing it into engagement with thephonograph record playing surface 47, reproducing the recorded soundtherefrom with the pickup arm 41 moving along the groove towards thecenter of the record 27. When the pickup arm 41 reaches the center ofthe record 27, the protrusion 49 again seats in the lift bar aperture 55which thereby overcomes the biasing force of leaf spring 75 and forcesthe switch 37 into the open circuit condition as well as removing thedirect bearing contact of lift bar 51 with the protrusion 49 so that theneedle 43 no longer contacts the phonograph record playing surface 27.This shuts off the phonograph 10 completing the single play since, asillustrated in FIG. 4, pickup arm 40 was previously situated withinprotrusion 47 seated in aperture 53 thereby holding switch 35 in theopen circuit condition. Thus, both switches 35 and 37 are then in theopen circuit condition and the phonograph 10 is automatically turnedoff.

PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 7-12, as well as to FIG. 6, the presentlypreferred embodiment of the toy phonograph, generally referred to by thereference numeral 10a of the present invention is shown. Preferably, allof the components of the previously described phonograph 10 of FIGS. 1-6are identical with the components of the presently preferred embodiment10a of FIGS. 7-12 with the exception of the switching mechanism 35-37(FIGS. 1-6) for automatically cutting off the power supply from powersource 31 to the turntable drive motor 30 which affects rotatable driveof turntable 18 and, correspondingly, simultaneous rotation ofphonograph records 26 and 27. Thus, switches 35 and 37 are preferablyreplaced by switches 35a and 37a which are also leaf spring contactswitches similar to switches 35 and 37; however, these switches 35a and37a are preferably located in a different position in the embodiment ofFIGS. 7-12 as well as functioning in a different manner in that theycooperate with the respective lift bars 48 and 41 directly instead ofwith the pickup arms 40 and 41, as will be described in greater detailhereinafter. Accordingly, identical reference numerals are employed foridentically functioning components in the preferred embodiment 10a ofFIGS. 7-12 which identical components will not be described again ingreater detail hereinafter except as to how they cooperatively functionwith the presently preferred switching arrangement 35a, 37a.

Thus as shown by reference to FIGS. 7-12, switch 35a preferablycomprises a conventional electrical leaf spring contact arrangement171-173 which is preferably normally biased to the closed circuitcondition and, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter isforcibly held in the open circuit condition due to the lift arm 48bearing against the leaf spring contact 171, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10,thereby removing it from electrical contact against contact 173, whichcondition occurs when the pickup arm protrusion 47 on pickup arm 40 isseated in the lift bar aperture 53. The switch 35a is preferably held inthis open circuit position as long as the pickup arm protrusion 47 isseated in the lift bar aperture 53. The force which holds the lift bar48 against leaf spring contact 171 to bias it into the open circuitposition is primarily provided by means of leaf spring 50 which normallybiases the entire lift bar mechanism 48 and the speaker cone 44 intoengagement with the protrusion 47 on the pickup arm 40 for enabling theaforementioned vibration of the speaker cone 44 during play. As is shownby FIGS. 8-10, and 11, a similar leaf spring electrical contactarrangement 175-177, which comprises switch 37a, by way of example, isprovided on the opposite side with respect to pickup arm 41, lift bar 51and phonograph record 27, with this leaf spring arrangement 175-177being shown in the closed circuit condition in FIGS. 8-12, andparticularly in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this closed circuit condition, aslong as on/off switch 33 is closed, power will be supplied from powersource 31, to the turntable drive motor 30, to effect rotatable drive ofturntable 13, and correspondingly, simultaneous rotation of phonographrecords 26 and 27. However, as long as the pickup arm protrusion 47 isseated in the lift bar aperture 53, the needle 42 is not in contact withthe phonograph record playing surface 26 and sound cannot thereby bereproduced from the phonograph record 26. However, as illustrativelyshown by way of example in FIG. 12, since the needle 43 associated withpickup arm 41 is in contact with the phonograph record playing surface27 due to direct bearing contact between lift bar 51 and the protrusion49 on the pickup arm 41, which bearing contact is resiliently maintainedby leaf spring 61, sound will be reproduced from the phonograph recordplaying surface 27 from the counterclockwise groove recorded therein. Ofcourse, if on/off switch 33 is manually moved to the open circuitcondition, the phonograph 10a will not operate, irrespective of the openor closed condition of switches 35a and 37a defined by contacts 171-173and 175-177, respectively. Moreover, if on/off switch 33 is in theclosed circuit condition, and both switches 35a and 37a are in the opencircuit condition, the toy phonograph 10a of the presently preferredembodiment shown in FIGS. 7-12 will not operate to produce sound sincethe turntable drive motor 30 will not be turned on. This lattercondition preferably occurs when both pickup arms 40 and 41 have theirrespective protrusions 47 and 49 seated in lift bar apertures 53 and 55,respectively, with both of the pickup arms 40 and 41 located at the endsof the respective recordings associated with phonograph records 26 and27, respectively, at which time respective lift bars 48 and 51 will bebiased against leaf spring contacts 171 and 175, respectively, to holdthese leaf spring contacts 171 and 175 in the open circuit condition aspreviously described. As will be described in greater detailhereinafter, this is the preferred off condition for the phonograph 10a,such as when the phonograph 10a forms part of a talking toy bank as willbe described in greater detail hereinafter, and as was also true for thepreviously described talking toy bank employing the embodiment of FIGS.1-6. Thus, FIG. 6 represents a talking toy bank which may employ eitherthe presently preferred embodiment 10a of FIGS. 7-12 or the previouslydescribed embodiment 10 of FIGS. 1-6 for the toy phonograph employedtherein.

As shown and preferred in FIGS. 7-12, switches 35a and 37a are eachpreferably located at the beginning of the respective record orperiphery of phonograph record 26 and 27, respectively, preferablydirectly beneath the beginning of the respective extension portions 57and 59 of lift arms 48 and 51, respectively. Thus, assuming the toyphonograph 10a is in the aforementioned preferred off condition, whenpickup arm 41, shown at the beginning of the record or periphery ofphonograph record 27 in FIGS. 9, 10 and 12, reaches the end of thephonograph record 27, that is the end of the recording, which isconventionally located adjacent the center of the record 27, theprotrusion 49 will seat in lift bar aperture 55 thereby removing thedirect bearing contact of the speaker cone assembly 45 with theprotrusion 49 on the pickup arm 41. In addition, this will enable liftbar 51 to be forcibly lowered from the height of the protrusion 49 dueto the downward biasing force of leaf spring 61 exceeding the normalupward biasing force of leaf spring contact 175 in the oppositedirection. As a result, this opens switch 37a by separating electricalcontacts 175 and 177 due to lift arm 51 bearing against leaf springcontact 175 to bias it to the open circuit condition. It should be notedthat preferably leaf spring contacts 171 and 175 are normally biased tothe closed circuit condition by being normally biased in a directionplacing them into contact with electrical contacts 173 and 177,respectively, which normal biasing direction, as previously mentioned,is opposite to the normal biasing direction of leaf springs 50 and 61,respectively.

As was previously mentioned with reference to the embodiment of FIGS.1-6, and as was described above, the lift arms 48 and 51 each preferablyinclude the aforementioned integral extension portions 57 and 59,respectively, for enabling mechanical reset of the respective pickuparms 40 and 41 to the periphery of the records 26 and 27, respectively,either to initiate reproduction of the message recorded in therespective grooves on the phonograph records 26 and 27 or at any timeduring the play thereof, such as before the respective pickup arms 40and 41 reach the end of the record. This function is in addition to thepresently preferred function of these extension portions 57 and 59 whichis to provide bearing pressure against the respective leaf springcontacts 171 and 175 to bias the respective switches 35a and 37a to theopen circuit condition when the respective pickup arms 40 and 41 reachthe end of the associated records 26 and 27 and the respectiveprotrusions 47 and 49 seat in lift bar apertures 53 and 55,respectively. Thus, as previously mentioned, extension 57, by way ofexample, enables a force to be applied in the direction of arrow 101 atthe end of extension portion 57 to lift the lift arm 48 out of bearingengagement with protrusion 47, thereby enabling spring 60 to resilientlyreturn pickup arm 40 to the beginning or periphery of the record 26.Such resilient return also enables switch 35a to close due to leafspring contact 171, being normally biased to the closed circuitcondition, which normal bias force is no longer overcome by the bearingrelationship of lift arm 48 against leaf spring contact 171. Thisbearing relationship is further prevented when the force applied toextension 57 is removed since the lift arm 48 once again now bearsagainst protrusion 47 which in effect raises pickup arm 48 above leafspring contact 171 so that it is not bearing relationship therewith,such as shown by the condition of lift arm 51 in FIG. 10. Thus, ifon/off switch 33 is closed, the closing of switch 35a will complete thecircuit from power source 31 to turntable drive motor 30, therebyturning on motor 30 and rotatably driving turntable 18 and enablingreproduction of the recorded message from phonograph record playingsurface 26 due to subsequent direct bearing contact of lift bar 48against the protrusion 47 when the pickup arm 40 reaches the peripheryof the phonograph 26. This direct bearing contact, as previouslymentioned, also enables leaf spring contact 171 to be in electricalcontact with contact 173 in the normal closed circuit condition.Similarly, extension 59 enables a mechanical force to be applied in thedirection of arrow 103 at the end of extension portion 59 to lift thelift arm 51 out of bearing engagement with protrusion 49, therebyenabling spring 69 to resiliently return pickup arm 41 to the beginningor periphery of the record 27 as illustrated in FIG. 12. Similarly,since lift arm 51 does not then bear against leaf spring contact 175,switch 37a will close due to the failure to then overcome the normalbiasing force of leaf spring contact 175 which then contacts electricalcontact 177 to close switch 37a. Thus, if on/off switch 33 is closed,this will complete the circuit from power source 31 to turntable drivemotor 30 enabling rotatable drive of turntable 18 and, due to thesubsequent direct bearing engagement of lift bar 51 with protrusion 49on pickup arm 41, sound will be reproduced from phonograph recordplaying surface 27. As was previously mentioned, if desired, suchmechanical reset may be accomplished in conjunction with the turning onand off of the drive motor 30 by means of a conventional mechanicalinterconnection between the on/off switch 33 for the power supply 31 formotor 30 which switch mechanical interconnection, by way of example,could also raise lift bar 48 in the direction of arrow 101 when theswitch 33 was moved to the off position, or alternatively, raise liftbar 51 in the direction of arrow 103 when the switch 33 was moved to theoff position, thereby insuring that record 26 or 27 will always start atthe beginning thereof when the phonograph 10a is turned on.

Most preferably, the toy phonograph 10a of the presently preferredembodiment of FIGS. 7-12 may be employed in a talking toy whereselection of a message to be singly reproduced is desired. In such aninstance, it may be conventionally arranged to provide a mechanicalinterconnection to raise lift bar 48 in the direction of arrow 101 toprovide one message in response to one condition and, alternatively, amechanical interconnection to raise lift bar 51 in the direction ofarrow 103 to provide another message in response to a differentcondition. Thus, by way of example, a dual record toy phonograph 10a ofthe presently preferred embodiment of FIGS. 7-12 may provide a talkingtoy bank such as previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-6 andsuch as illustratively shown in block form in FIG. 6. No furtherdescription of the talking toy bank of FIG. 6 other than that previouslydescribed with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 is necessary fora sufficient understanding thereof except to say that the onlydifference in operation to that previously described relates to themanner in which the switches 35a and 37a are opened and closed asopposed to the manner in which switches 35 and 37 are opened and closeddue to their different location and cooperative relationship. However,this difference in cooperative relationship has been adequatelydescribed above to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Most preferably, the presently preferred toy phonograph 10a may beemployed as a single record toy phonograph as opposed to the dual recordtoy phonograph described above. In such instance, the components thereofare identical with the exception that a second speaker assembly, such asspeaker assembly 44, and a second lift bar 48, as well as all of themechanism associated with the playing of the phonograph record 26, byway of example, is omitted with only one phonograph record, such asphonograph record 27 being mounted on the turntable 18. Thus, FIG. 9represents a plan view of the single record embodiment as well as thebottom plan view of the dual record embodiment of the presentlypreferred toy phonograph 10a of the present invention. The operation ofthe single record embodiment is preferably identical with thatpreviously described with respect to the dual record embodiment with theexception that only one switch, switch 37a by way of example, isconnected in series with on/off switch 33 for providing power to theturntable drive motor 30 when leaf spring contact 171 is in the closedcircuit and contacts contact 177. As was previously discussed for thedual record embodiment, and as is also true for the single recordembodiment, switch 37a will be placed in the open circuit condition whenlift arm 51 bears against leaf spring contact 175 when protrusion 49 isseated in lift bar aperture 55 in the manner described above withrespect to the dual record embodiment. Thus, the toy phonograph 10asingle record embodiment may also be employed in any talking toy whereselection of the message to be singly reproduced is desired.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toy phonograph comprising a housing, saidhousing comprising a base; a turntable rotatably mounted on said basefor rotation about an axis of rotation; a first pickup arm pivoted atone end and engageable with a playing surface of a first phonographrecord rotatably mount on one side of said turntable; means for pressingsaid first pickup arm into sound reproducing engagement with said firstphonograph record playing surface for reproducing recorded sound fromsaid first phonograph record playing surface during rotation of saidturntable; a first speaker cone means resiliently mounted on saidhousing above said first pickup arm, said pressing means comprising afirst spring means resiliently urging said first speaker cone means intosound reproducing contact with said first pickup arm with a biasingforce for pressing said first pickup arm into sound reproducingengagement with said first phonograph record for reproducing saidrecorded sound from said first phonograph record playing surface duringsaid rotation thereof; means for disengaging said first speaker conemeans from said resilient sound reproducing contact with said firstpickup arm adjacent the end of said first phonograph record playingsurface recording whereby said reproducing of said recorded sound isinterrupted, said first phonograph record playing surface having aperiphery; second spring means, said first pickup arm being constantlyplaced under a force of said second spring means which urges said firstpickup arm toward the periphery of said first phonograph record playingsurface; said disengaging means comprising a first lift bar meansassociated with said first speaker cone means in sound reproducingcontact therewith, said first speaker cone means being mounted formovement with said first lift bar means, said movement enabling saidfirst speaker cone means to be urged out of said sound reproducingengagement with said first pickup arm for enabling said first pickup armto be resiliently reset to the periphery of said first phonograph recordplaying surface by said second spring means while subsequently returningsaid first speaker cone means to said resilient sound reproducingcontact with said first pickup arm, said first pickup arm comprising afirst protrusion extending upwardly therefrom substantially normal tosaid first phonograph record playing surface and being pivotally movablewith said first pickup arm, said first lift bar means comprising a firstaperture for receiving said first protrusion therein, said first liftbar means aperture being located above said first phonograph recordadjacent the end of said first phonograph record recording, said firstprotrusion being receivable in said first lift bar means aperture whensaid first pickup arm is adjacent the end of said first phonographrecord recording for interrupting said reproducing of said recordedsound from said first phonograph record playing surface; drive means forrotatably driving said turntable for enabling said reproducing of saidrecorded sound from said first phonograph record; and bistate switchmeans for activating and deactivating said drive means dependent on thestate of said switch means, said drive means being activated torotatably drive said turntable in a first state of said switch means andbeing deactivated to halt said rotatable drive of said common turntablein a second state of said switch means, said switch means comprisingelectrical contact means located between said first phonograph recordplaying surface and said first lift bar means, said electrical contactmeans being normally biased into a closed circuit condition when saidswitch means is in said first state and being located adjacent saidfirst lift bar means and out of engagement therewith in said closedcircuit condition while being located for engagement by said first liftbar means for placing said switch means in said second state when saidfirst pickup arm protrusion is received in said first lift bar meansaperture.
 2. A toy phonograph in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidswitch means comprises a leaf spring contact switch means comprising afirst leaf spring contact and a second contact with said means locatedbetween said first phonograph record playing surface and said first liftbar means comprising said first leaf spring contact and being spacedfrom said first lift bar means out of engagement therewith and in closedcircuit engagement with said second contact when said switch means is insaid first state, said first leaf spring contact being normallyresiliently biased into said closed circuit engagement with apredetermined biasing force, said lift bar means engaging said firstleaf spring contact with said first spring biasing force which is inexcess of said first leaf spring biasing force for disengaging saidfirst leaf spring contact from said second contact for placing saidswitch means into said second state when said first pickup armprotrusion is received in said first lift bar means aperture, saidsecond state being an open circuit between said first leaf springcontact and said second contact.
 3. A toy phonograph in accordance withclaim 2 wherein said first lift bar means comprises means for enablingsaid lift bar aperture to be raised above the first pickup armprotrusion received therein for enabling said pickup arm to beresiliently reset to the periphery of said phonograph record, and saidhousing further comprising stop means extending from said base adjacentthe end of said phonograph recording and disposed above said firstpickup arm for limiting the upward movement thereof for enabling saidresilient reset by said second spring means.
 4. A toy phonograph inaccordance with claim 3, wherein said lift bar raising means furtherdisengages said first lift bar means from said first leaf spring contactfor enabling said switch to return to said first state.
 5. A toyphonograph in accordance with claim 3, wherein said lift bar apertureraising enabling means comprises an extension portion of said lift barmeans extending out of said housing.
 6. A toy phonograph in accordancewith claim 5, wherein said toy phonograph housing further comprises afirst coin receiving slot therein, said first lift bar aperture raisingenabling means further comprises a first coin receiving meansoperatively associated with said first lift bar extension portion and incommunication with said first coin receiving slot for raising said firstlift bar aperture above said first pickup arm protrusion receivedtherein in response to insertion of a coin in said first coin receivingslot; said toy phonograph housing further comprising a receptacle forsaid inserted coin.
 7. A toy phonograph in accordance with claim 6,wherein said switch means is normally biased toward said first state andthe insertion of said coin in said first coin receiving slot furtherenables said switch means to return to said first state when said firstlift bar means aperture is raised above the first pickup arm protrusionreceived therein.
 8. A toy phonograph in accordance with claim 6,wherein said coin receiving means comprises means for enabling saidinserted coin to drop therefrom into said receptacle, said first pickuparm protrusion being subsequently received in the lift bar meansaperture associated with the coin receiving slot through which said coinwas inserted at the end of the recording associated therewith, saidprotrusion remaining in said lift bar means aperture until another coinis subsequently inserted in said associated coin receiving slot forproviding a subsequent single play reproducing of said recorded soundfrom said phonograph record playing surface.
 9. A toy phonograph inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said first lift bar means comprisesmeans for enabling said lift bar aperture to be raised above the firstpickup arm protrusion received therein for enabling said pickup arm tobe resiliently reset to the periphery of said phonograph record.
 10. Atoy phonograph in accordance with claim 9, wherein said lift baraperture raising enabling means comprises an extension portion of saidlift bar means extending out of said housing.
 11. A toy phonograph inaccordance with claim 10, wherein said first lift bar cooperable switchmeans is located adjacent said first phonograph record periphery andsaid lift bar aperture raising enabling means.
 12. A toy phonograph inaccordance with claim 10, wherein said toy phonograph housing furthercomprises a first coin receiving slot therein, said first lift baraperture raising enabling means further comprises a first coin receivingmeans operatively associated with said first lift bar extension portionand in communication with said first coin receiving slot for raisingsaid first lift bar aperture above said first pickup arm protrusionreceived therein in response to insertion of a coin in said first coinreceiving slot; said toy phonograph housing further comprising areceptacle for said inserted coin.
 13. A toy phonograph in accordancewith claim 12, wherein said switch means is normally biased toward saidfirst state and the insertion of said coin in said first coin receivingslot further enables said switch means to return to said first statewhen said first lift bar means aperture is raised above the first pickuparm protrusion received therein.
 14. A toy phonograph in accordance withclaim 12, wherein said coin receiving means comprises means for enablingsaid inserted coin to drop therefrom into said receptacle, said firstpickup arm protrusion being subsequently received in the lift bar meansaperture associated with the coin receiving slot through which said coinwas inserted at the end of the recording associated therewith, saidprotrusion remaining in said lift bar means aperture until another coinis subsequently inserted in said associated coin receiving slot forproviding a subsequent single play reproducing of said recorded soundfrom said phonograph record playing surface.
 15. A toy phonograph inaccordance with claim 9, wherein said first lift bar cooperable switchmeans is located adjacent said first phonograph record periphery andsaid lift bar aperture raising enabling means.
 16. A toy phonograph inaccordance with claim 1, further comprising a second pickup arm pivotedat one end and engageable with a playing surface of a second phonographrecord rotatably mounted on the opposite side of said turntable fromsaid one side, said turntable being common to said first and secondphonograph records for enabling simultaneous rotation therewith, andmeans for pressing said second pickup arm into sound reproducingengagement with said second phonograph record playing surface forreproducing recorded sound from said second phonograph record playingsurface during said simultaneous rotation thereof.
 17. A toy phonographin accordance with claim 16, further comprising a second speaker conemeans resiliently mounted on said housing above said second pickup arm;said pressing means comprising a third spring means resiliently urgingsaid second speaker cone means into sound reproducing contact with saidsecond pickup arm with a biasing force for pressing said second pickuparm into sound reproducing engagement with said second phonograph recordfor reproducing said recorded sound from said second phonograph recordplaying surface during said simultaneous rotation thereof.
 18. A toyphonograph in accordance with claim 17, further comprising means fordisengaging said second speaker cone means from said resilient soundreproducing contact with said second pickup arm adjacent the end of saidsecond phonograph record playing surface recording whereby saidreproducing of said recorded sound is interrupted.
 19. A toy phonographin accordance with claim 18 wherein said second phonograph recordplaying surface has a periphery; said toy phonograph further comprisingfourth spring means, said second pickup arm being constantly placedunder a force of said fourth spring means which urges said second pickuparm toward the periphery of said second phonograph record playingsurface; said second speaker cone disengaging means comprising a secondlift bar means associated with said second speaker cone means in soundreproducing contact therewith, said second speaker cone means beingmounted for movement with said second lift bar means, said movementenabling said second speaker cone means to be urged out of said soundreproducing engagement with said second pickup arm for enabling saidsecond pickup arm to be resiliently reset to the periphery of saidsecond phonograph record playing surface by said fourth spring meanswhile subsequently returning said second speaker cone means to saidresilient sound reproducing contact with said second pickup arm.
 20. Atoy phonograph in accordance with claim 19, wherein said second pickuparm comprises a second protrusion extending upwardly therefromsubstantially normal to said second phonograph record playing surfaceand being pivotally movable with said second pickup arm, said secondlift bar means comprises a second aperture for receiving said secondprotrusion therein, said second lift bar means aperture being locatedabove said second phonograph record adjacent the end of said secondphonograph record recording, said second protrusion being receivable insaid second lift bar means aperture when said second pickup arm isadjacent the end of said second phonograph record recording forinterrupting said reproducing of said recorded sound from said secondphonograph record playing surface.
 21. A toy phonograph in accordancewith claim 20 wherein said drive means rotatably drives said commonturntable for enabling said reproducing of said recorded sound from saidfirst and second phonograph records, said switch means furthercomprising electrical contact means located between said secondphonograph record playing surface and said second lift bar means, saidelectrical contact means being normally biased into a closed circuitcondition when said switch means is in said first state and beinglocated adjacent said second lift bar means and out of engagementtherewith in said closed circuit condition while being located forengagement by said second lift bar means for placing said switch meansin said second state when both said first and second pickup armprotrusions are received in said respective first and second lift barmeans apertures.
 22. A toy phonograph in accordance with claim 21,wherein said switch means further comprises a second leaf spring contactand a second contact with said means located between said secondphonograph record playing surface and said second lift bar meanscomprising said second leaf spring contact and being spaced from saidsecond lift bar means out of engagement therewith and in closed circuitengagement with said third contact when said switch means is in saidsecond state, said second leaf spring contact being normally resilientlybiased into said closed circuit engagement with a predetermined biasingforce, said second lift bar means engaging said second leaf springcontact with said second spring biasing force which is in excess of saidsecond leaf spring biasing force for disengaging said second leaf springcontact from said third contact for enabling said placing of said switchmeans into said second state when said second pickup arm protrusion isreceived in said second lift bar means aperture, said second statefurther comprising an open circuit between said second leaf springcontact and said third contact.
 23. A toy phonograph in accordance withclaim 21 wherein said first and second lift bar means each comprisemeans for enabling said lift bar aperture to be raised above the pickuparm protrusion received therein for enabling said pickup arm to beresiliently reset to the periphery of said phonograph record, and saidhousing further comprises stop means extending from said base adjacentthe end of said respective phonograph recordings and disposed above saidfirst and second pickup arms for limiting the upward movement thereoffor enabling said resilient reset by said second and fourth spring meansrespectively.
 24. A toy phonograph in accordance with claim 23, whereinsaid lift bar aperture raising enabling means comprises an extensionportion of said lift bar means extending out of said housing.
 25. A toyphonograph in accordance with claim 24, wherein said toy phonographhousing further comprises first and second coin receiving slots therein,said first lift bar aperture raising enabling means further comprises afirst coin receiving means operatively associated with said first liftbar extension portion and in communication with said first coinreceiving slot for raising said first lift bar aperture above said firstpickup arm protrusion received therein in response to insertion of acoin in said first coin receiving slot; and said second lift baraperture raising enabling means further comprises a second coinreceiving means operatively associated with said second lift barextension portion and in communication with said second coin receivingslot for raising said second lift bar aperture above said second pickuparm protrusion received therein in response to insertion of a coin insaid second coin receiving slot, said toy phonograph housing furthercomprising a receptacle for said inserted coin.
 26. A toy phonograph inaccordance with claim 25, wherein each of said coin receiving meanscomprises means for enabling said inserted coin to drop therefrom intosaid receptacle, said respective pickup arm protrusion beingsubsequently received in the lift bar means aperture associated with thecoin receiving slot through which said coin was inserted at the end ofthe recording associated therewith, said protrusion remaining in saidlift bar means aperture until another coin is subsequently inserted insaid associated coin receiving slot for providing a subsequent singleplay reproducing of said recorded sound from said phonograph recordplaying surface.
 27. A toy phonograph in accordance with claim 25,wherein said switch means is normally biased toward said first state andthe insertion of said coin in either said first or second coin receivingslot further enables said switch means to return to said first statewhen said first or second lift bar means aperture is raised above therespective first or second pickup arm protrusion received therein.
 28. Atoy phonograph in accordance with claim 25, wherein said first coinreceiving slot is dimensioned for receiving a different denominationcoin therein than said second coin receiving slot, whereby a talking toybank is provided.